Another day dawned for Norfolk Alliance Premier Fakenham with the signing of Tatenda Chirazda as overseas player.

With only one other change for the visit of Horsford A, Fakenham were hoping for an improvement on the previous week’s horror.

On a good batting surface and perfect summer weather, Fakenham started badly, losing the toss and asked to field. Opening the bowling with Lloyd Marshall and Chirazda, runs started flowing as the opening pair of Rowledge and Perry Warnes took full advantage of the conditions and some slightly loose bowling, 54 runs coming in the first 10 overs.

Bowling changes at both ends to Steve Earl and Dave Coyle did little to staunch the overall run rate although Coyle was certainly the most economic. The 100 came up in the 19th over followed shortly by both openers’ personal 50s. The breakthrough finally came when Nathan Perry Warnes was lbw for 75 to Pete Matthews in the 31st over – 159-1.

Marshall struck three overs later when he added Rowledge to his list of lbws, out for 80. Runs still came at a steady pace, but so did wickets, Marshall ending with 5-64 from his 10 overs whilst Chirazda added 3-62 on his debut with Pete Matthews 2-51 as Horsford ended on 285 all out on the last ball.

The Fakenham reply got off to a similarly brisk start, Keegan Monahan-Fairlie and Harry Bammant taking 34 from the first seven overs before Monahan-Fairlie was trapped lbw to Lincoln for 14. Tom Yarham joined Bammant and together they took the score along at a good rate until Bammant gave a catch off Minns to be out for 17 – 77-2 off 14 overs.

Chirazda joined Yarham and finally some stability seemed to be returning as the scoreboard kept ticking over steadily, the pair adding 61 before Yarham was bowled for 48. Harry Blackistone, returning to the side, looked to be starting to find his form as he and Chirazda added 42 for the next wicket, Blackistone unlucky to be given out lbw when well forward for 18, with Fakenham 176-4 off 37 overs. Lloyd Marshall joined Chirazda and the partnership put on 20 when Chirazda was run out for 57 by a fine piece of fielding from Spencely to make it 196-5 off 40 overs. Needing 90 from the last 10 overs the rest of the Fakenham were all out for 234 from 47 overs.

Cooke’s of Fakenham man of the match was Tatenda Chirazda for his top-scoring 57 and his 3-62.